only son
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
only son
formalFormal term for a male child who has no brothers or sisters. Often used in the context of family structure, inheritance, or social policies. The female counterpart is 独生女.
Tā他
shì是
jiā家
lǐ里
de的
dú独
shēng生
zǐ子
，
fù父
mǔ母
duì对
tā他
qī期
wàng望
hěn很
gāo高
。
He is the only son in the family, and his parents have high expectations for him.
Zài在
jiù旧
shè社
huì会
，
dú独
shēng生
zǐ子
cháng常
cháng常
chéng承
dān担
zhe着
chuán传
zōng宗
jiē接
dài代
de的
zhòng重
rèn任
。
In the old society, the only son often bore the heavy responsibility of continuing the family line.
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Zuò作
wéi为
dú独
shēng生
zǐ子
，
tā他
xí习
guàn惯
le了
xiǎng享
shòu受
fù父
mǔ母
quán全
bù部
de的
guān关
zhù注
。
As an only son, he is used to receiving all of his parents' attention.